Author: NZRacingDesk

Te Rapa visitor First Five delivered on his enormous potential when he gave trainer David Greene his first Group One success when taking out the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham. Carrying his favourite number 10 saddlecloth, the strapping son of Almanzor took full advantage of that good omen as he dominated the closing stages of the time-honoured sprint feature to head off the challenge of last year’s third placegetter Navigator and the winner of the 2025 contest, Grail Seeker. Successful in the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) on his…

All eyes and money were on Argo prior to the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m), with the world’s leading jockey James McDonald aboard the gelding, but it was La Dorada who scored top honours when returning to her brilliant best in the Trentham feature on Saturday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly was victorious over the same track and distance when taking out last season’s Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on her way to being crowned Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old. She has been disappointing in her…

Gold Coast trainers Tony and Maddy Sears have another talented stayer on their hands as Nightline gave them back-to-back winners of the Eagle Way (2100m) with a dominant performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The father-daughter training combination sent out Beau Dazzler to win the three-year-old feature last year before he returned to place in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) prior to an unplaced tilt at the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m). A New Zealand bred daughter of Redwood, Nightline will now be saved for the Queensland Winter Carnival with Classic…

Rider Matt Cameron’s love affair with one of the feature mile races at Trentham each year came to the fore once again when he guided consistent performer Khanshe to a stunning victory in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday. Punters weren’t enamoured with his chances aboard the Fraser Auret-trained Khanshe, allowing the daughter of Mongolian Khan to start at $18 in the Fixed Odds market which was dominated by up and comers Ma Te Wa ($2.90) and Omega Boy ($5). However, those who had followed…

Progressive stayer Leonchroi scored a narrow victory in the Geelong Homes BM70 Handicap (2400m) at the standalone meeting at Geelong on Saturday under a perfectly-timed run by Logan Bates. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Contributer looks an improving staying type and had previously finished runner-up to Shockletz at Pakenham. Leonchroi started a $3 favourite in an event that was held up with three late scratchings at the gates with jockey Jason Maskiell taken to hospital after a barrier mishap on Star Testymony. “We were following the…

Robbie Patterson is fizzing to get to the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with his Group One winner One Bold Cat later this month. The Taranaki horseman was confident heading towards the two-mile feature prior to Saturday, but One Bold Cat’s victory in the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts LTD (2200m) at Trentham has further added to that sentiment. The seven-year-old gelding was dropping back from elite-level company, having last raced when fifth in the Listed Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Upper Hutt track…

Talented filly Lassified showed her rivals a clean pair of heels as she dominated proceedings to take out the first stakes race at Trentham on Saturday, the Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes (1100m). Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman hasn’t been afraid of travelling the daughter of Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Stay Inside, having taken her to Tauherenikau to win on debut before tackling the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Saturday’s venue where she performed with credit in running fourth to unbeaten filly Lara Antipova. Rider Bruno Queiroz…

Matamata trainer Pam Gererad will head south to Trentham on Saturday with a quality team of three runners engaged for the day’s feature meeting. Spearheading the attack will be last start Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff who will be stepping out on raceday for the first time since defeating stablemate Affirmative Action in the Riccarton blue riband classic. His mission on the weekend is the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m) with Gerard keen to see him perform to expectations as she prepares the son of…

Matamata trainer Cody Cole is following a similar blueprint to last year with his Group One performer Navigator, who will head into the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday fresh-up. The six-year-old son of El Roca was also in a fresh state when placing in the race last year, and Cole saw no reason not to follow that same path this year. “We did that last year with him and that’s the way to have him,” Cole said. “He performed well there last year and I feel like…

Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping Towering Vision’s win in the Eagle Technology 1600 at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day is a good omen as they look towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March with the progressive three-year-old. The last two winners of the New Year’s Day three-year-old mile, Orchestral (2024) and Willydoit (2025), have gone on to win the Derby, and Walker and Bergerson are hoping Towering Vision can continue that trend. The stakes winner was fresh-up on Thursday, and punters supported him late,…